The Buchholz Bobcats had just taken a 23-17 lead with a few seconds left in the game, but they were looking for a final signature play to cap off an impressive defensive showing.

On the final play, Nease (Ponte Vedra) quarterback Aiden Phifer threw a pick-six to senior Justin Williams, who ran it into the end zone for his third touchdown of the game.

“There is really nothing to say more than he is a fantastic football player, I think he is the best football player in the state,” Buchholz head coach Mark Whittemore said of Williams.

Williams’ heroics helped the Bobcats (11-1) defeat the Nease Panthers (9-3), 29-17, on Friday at Citizens Field in the Class 6A Region 1 Semifinals.

It was a rematch of a Sept. 26 contest, where Buchholz used a complete game effort to defeat Nease, 27-7.

Buchholz sophomore quarterback Andrew Whittemore threw his first touchdown of the game with a 40-yard strike to sophomore wide receiver Marquel Brooks to open the scoring.

The Bobcats would pick up right where they left off on the ensuing drive, as Andrew Whittemore lofted a 43-yard touchdown pass right into the hands of Williams, the Florida commit, to double the Bobcats’ lead. It was Williams’ 12^th receiving touchdown of the season, who has developed a rapport with the first-year starter.

“You know, it’s like second nature at this point,” Williams said on the connection.

Phifer hit a wide-open Tyshawn Ford for a 43-yard touchdown pass to put Nease on the board in the second quarter.

To close out the first half, after forcing a turnover on downs on a failed flea flicker, the Bobcats added three points on a 37-yard field goal by Jay Giunta to give them a 17-7 halftime lead.

Nease settled for a 20-yard field goal by Aric Davis-Baer to make it 17-10 in the third quarter.

The bend but don’t break Buchholz defense struck again on the ensuing drive. The Bobcats forced a turnover on downs on a Phifer run on fourth and goal. He was met by defensive back Camron Burse.

“Their ability to rush the passer tonight is what won us the game, they were just relentless in pursuit of Nease’s quarterback. That really was the tale of the tape,” Mark Whittemore said.

Phifer threw his second touchdown of the game late in the fourth quarter, this one to running back Quinn Bradfield, to tie the contest, 17-17.

The Bobcats, who had a slow offensive second half, were scoreless until the final drive. Williams scored the game-winning touchdown with a few seconds left on the clock, on a 4-yard rush, his second touchdown of the day.

“I play hard for my guys, I just knew we were going to have to get it out some way, some fashion,” Williams said.

Buchholz will host No. 2-seed Mandarin in the 6A Regional Final at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and look to advance to their fifth straight state semifinals.

High School Football 

Area teams in bold

FHSAA Football

Thursday, Nov. 20

Rural Florida Invitational Tournament (FIT)

1 Fort White 59, 9 Wildwood 0
3 Holmes County (Bonifay) 28, 6 Union County (Lake Butler) 14

Friday, Nov. 21

Regional Finals

Class Rural-Region 3
3 Chiefland 49, 6 Baker 19

Class Rural-Region 4
2 Hawthorne 30, 7 Williston 8

Regional Semifinals

Class 2A-Region 2
1 Bradford (Starke) 24, 5 Berkeley Prep (Tampa) 14

Class 3A-Region 21Bishop Moore (Orlando) 36, 4 Eastside 8

Class 4A-Region 12 Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach) 27, 3 Columbia (Lake City) 20

Class 6A-Region 1
1 Buchholz 29, 4 Nease (Ponte Vedra) 17

SSAA Playoffs

Saturday, Nov. 22

11-man 3A Championship
Oak Hall 27, Cambridge Christian (Tampa) 10

8-man 1A Championship

All Saints’ Academy (Winter Haven) 36, Saint Francis Catholic Academy 22